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Cleveland Indians top pick Clint Frazier set for pro debut tonight in Arizona

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Cleveland Indians No. 1 draft pick in the 2013 draft Clint Frazier warms up with Nick Swisher before the game against the Washington Nationals on June 15.Frazier signed with the Indians on Saturday will make his pro debut tonight.
(Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Clint Frazier, the Indians' first-round pick (fifth overall), is scheduled to make his professional debut tonight when the Arizona League Indians visit the Brewers. The rookie-league game will be held at Maryvale Baseball Park in Phoenix.

Frazier, center fielder from Loganville (Ga.) High School, is the Gatorade national player of the year. He was the cover boy on Baseball America's draft preview issue; Baseball America ranked him No. 4 on its Top 100 on draft day. He has been called a mini-Mike Trout.

Frazier signed for a $3.5 million bonus on June 15 and took batting practice at Progressive Field that afternoon. His BP display was impressive. The next day, Frazier said goodbye to his family and flew to Arizona.

"Incredibly hard to do,'' said Frazier's father, Mark, by phone today. "But at the same time, it was exciting. He was leaving to chase his dream of becoming a professional ballplayer.''

Mark Frazier, at home in Loganville, has been a bundle of nerves the past several days in anticipation of his son's debut. Mark Frazier said Clint had gotten antsy during the preparation time.

"I told him, 'Bubba, once you get started, you're going to wish you had a week or two off,''' Mark said with a chuckle.

Frazier needed to get back into baseball shape. He had not played in games that matter since the Georgia high school playoffs in May. Frazier was listed at 6-1, 190, on draft day, but his father said he already has put on 7 pounds.

When Frazier took BP in Cleveland, he signed several autographs for youngsters with the No. 19, his prep number, after his name. Several people approached Mark Frazier and informed him that Indians legend Bob Feller wore the number and that it is retired.

"When I talked with Bubba about it, he said, 'Good gracious, I didn't mean anything by it,''' Mark Frazier said. "He felt bad. He told me he'd be more than happy to switch numbers and just sign his name.''

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